General Aptitude- 1 | Topic wise GATE Past Year Papers for Civil Engineering - Civil Engineering (CE) PDF Download

Q.1. The Newspaper reports that over 500 hectares of tribal land spread across 28 tribal settlements in the Mohinitampuram forest division have already been "alienated". A top forest official said, "First the tribals are duped out of their landholdings. Second, the families thus rendered landless are often forced to encroach further into the forests". On the basis of the information available in the paragraph, ________ is/are responsible for duping the tribals.
(a) The Newspaper
(b) It cannot be inferred who
(c) Forest officials
(d) Landless families [2019: 2 Marks, Set-ll]
Ans. (b)
Solution: The Newspaper is just reporting the matter, it cannot be responsible for duping the tribals. A top forest official made the statement about tribals being duped hence officials can not be responsible for duping the tribals.

Q.2.  An oil tank can be filled by pipe X in 5 hours and pipe Y in 4 hours, each pump working on its own. When the oil tank is full and the drainage hole is open, the oil is drained in 20 hours. If initially the tank was empty and someone started the two pumps together but left the drainage hole open, how many hours will it take for the tank to be filled? (Assume that the rate of drainage is independent of the Head)
(a) 4.00
(b) 1.50
(c) 2.00
(d) 2.50 [2019: 2 Marks, Set-ll]
Ans. (d)
Solution: Let inlet pipes, A= 4 hours, B = 5 hours and outlet pipe, C = 20 hours.
In 1 hour (A + B + C) can fill = 1/4 + 1/5 - 1/20 = 8/20 = 2/5
(A + B + C) together = 5/2 = 2.5 hours

Q.3. The population of state X increased by x% and the population of state Y increased by y% from 2001 to 2011. Assume that x is greater than y. Let P be the ratio of the population of state X to state Y in a given year. The percentage increase in P from 2001 to 2011 is _______.
    [2019: 2 Marks, Set-ll]
Ans. (b)
Solution: Let a, b be the initial population.
Given a/b = p (ratio earlier)

So, required % change,

Q.6. In a sports academy of 300 people, 105 play only cricket, 70 play only hockey, 50 play only football, 25 play both cricket and hockey, 15 play both hockey and football, and 30 play both cricket and football. The rest of them play all three sports. What is the percentage of people who play at least two sports?
(a) 25.00
(b) 28.00
(c) 23.30
(d) 50.00 [2019: 2 Marks, Set-1]
Ans. (b)
Solution: All the three sports = 300 - 295 = 5

No. of players playing at least 2 sports = 25 + 5 + 30 + 15 = 75
Percentage of players playing at least 2 sports

Question 10: A square has sides 5 cm smaller than the sides of a second square. The area of the larger square is four times the area of the smaller square. The side of the larger square is _______ cm.
(a) 15.10
(b) 8.50
(c) 18.50
(d) 10.00 [2019: 2 Marks, Set-I]
Ans. (d)
Solution: Let side of larger square = x ⇒ Side of smaller square = (x - 5)
∴ Area of larger square = x² and  Area of smaller square = (x - 5)²
∵ Area of larger square = 4 times of area of smaller square
⇒ x² = 4(x - 5)²
∴ x = 10
Thus, Side of larger square = 10 cm

Q.11. The growth rate of ABC Motors in 2017 was the same _________ XYZ Motors in 2016.
(a) As that off
(b) As those of
(c) As off
(d) As that of [2019: 1 Mark, Set-ll]
Ans. (d)
Solution: The growth of ABC motors was the same in 2017 as that of XYZ motors in 2016. The subject of the sentence is The growth of ABC 'motors'. It is to be compared with the growth of XYZ motors hence use of ‘that of’ is appropriate.

Q.13. A retaining wall with measurements 30 m x 12 m x 6 m was constructed with bricks of dimensions 8 cm x 6 cm x 6 cm If 60% of the wall consists of bricks, the number of bricks used for the construction is _______ lakhs.
(a) 30
(b) 40
(c) 75
(d) 45 [2019: 1 Mark, Set-ll]
Ans. (d)
Solution: No. of bricks = x

Q.15. Suresh wanted to lay a new carpet in his new mansion with an area of 70 x 55 sq. mts. However an area of 550 sq. mts. had to be left out for flower pots. If the cost of carpet is Rs. 50 per sq. mts., how much money (in Rs.) will be spent by Suresh for the carpet now?
(a) Rs. 1,65, 000
(b) Rs. 2,75, 000
(c) Rs. 1,92, 500
(d) Rs. 1,27,500 [2019: 1 Mark, Set-ll]
Ans. (a)
Solution: Cost of carpet = [70 x 55 - 550] x 50 = Rs. 1,65,000